What does Ezekiel 35:1 mean?
What is the meaning of Ezekiel 35:1?

Moreover

“Moreover” signals a fresh revelation on top of what has just been shared.

• It links backward to the previous chapter, where Israel’s restoration was promised (Ezekiel 34), and now pivots to a contrasting word for Mount Seir/Edom (Ezekiel 35).

• This single word shows that God keeps speaking, moving His plan forward without interruption (cf. Isaiah 28:13; Jeremiah 36:32).


the word of the LORD

Ezekiel is not offering personal musings; he is relaying God’s own word.

• Scripture affirms repeatedly that God’s word is living, active, and never returns void (Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrews 4:12).

• By marking the source so clearly, the verse assures us of the message’s absolute authority, just as the prophets of old proclaimed, “Thus says the LORD” (Amos 1:3; Zechariah 1:1).


came to me

The prophet receives, he doesn’t generate, the revelation.

• This emphasizes God’s initiative in revealing truth (2 Peter 1:20-21; Galatians 1:11-12).

• It reinforces Ezekiel’s calling as a watchman who must pass on what he hears (Ezekiel 3:17).

• For readers, it models the humble posture of listening rather than inventing (James 1:21-22).


saying

What follows is meant to be spoken, preached, and obeyed.

• The pattern—God speaks, the prophet delivers—underscores accountability (Jeremiah 1:7; Jonah 3:2).

• “Saying” promises specific content: in the next verses, God will pronounce judgment on Edom for perpetual hostility toward Israel (Ezekiel 35:2-15; Obadiah 10-14).

• The very structure of the sentence foreshadows a divine verdict that cannot be ignored (Deuteronomy 32:1).


summary

Ezekiel 35:1 introduces a new oracle with four quick strokes: God continues speaking; the message carries His full authority; it is personally entrusted to Ezekiel; and it demands to be proclaimed. This simple verse reminds us that every prophetic word originates from the living LORD, moves through willing servants, and calls listeners to heed and respond.

Why does Ezekiel emphasize the metaphor of sheep in chapter 34, verse 31?
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